“A bizarre but very satisfying season” – Objectif Gard

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From 356th to 164th on this planet this season, Benjamin Bonzi had many nice successes in 2020. A glance again at a great season for the Anduzien. Interview.

Objectif Gard: After a second spherical at Roland Garros, you ended your season in essentially the most stunning method final week, with a spherical of 16 on the Masters 1000 at Paris Bercy. The capital does nicely for you …

Benjamin Bonzi: Yes (laughs). Getting an invitation to the primary draw was a shock to me. I used to be initially registered for a Challenger match in Italy. It was an incredible first for me. I gained my first spherical towards Argentine Federico Coria (6/2 6/1, Editor’s notice) which is a part of the world prime 100. So it is true that he is a extra snug participant on outside clay than on onerous indoor, but I used to be removed from being the favourite of the sport. I managed to place in a tactical plan to hinder him. I used to be in a position to race within the lead and he acquired annoyed.

Is it your greatest victory of the season?

(After a couple of seconds of considering) If I ought to put out a match, it might slightly be my first spherical at Roland Garros, towards Emil Ruusuvuori (6/2 6/4 4/6 6/4, Editor’s notice). He was additionally within the prime 100 and the match occurred in very particular circumstances with a number of wind and rain. And then, a sport in three successful units, it isn’t fairly the identical.

Two victories over gamers from the world’s prime 100, two titles in Futures and almost 200 locations recovered. What do you bear in mind out of your 2020 season?

It was a usually bizarre season. There was this well being disaster which made me reduce off from tennis for a number of weeks, which is sort of typical for me. Afterwards, on a private stage, it’s essentially very satisfying. I modified a number of issues final winter in my preparation for long run progress. The outcomes got here very rapidly and I gained a number of matches regardless of a shorter taking part in time than typical. I’m as soon as once more within the prime 200, which provides me direct entry to the Challenger tournaments. It is all of the extra encouraging as I nonetheless have many areas for enchancment.

What are they ?

I’ve to proceed to work technically all of the strokes of tennis and particularly to achieve in regularity within the service. I have never been performing nicely sufficient on this sector in current weeks. Physically, I’ve to handle to chop the trajectories extra, repair my assist higher and preserve a excessive depth for longer. In quick, there may be work.

Is that what constitutes your program for the following few weeks?

I’ll first reduce tennis for a couple of days earlier than resuming coaching for subsequent season. I’ve the standings to qualify for the Australian Open, but we don’t but know if they are going to happen. Then I’ll return to the Challenger circuit. With the cancellations of tournaments because of the well being state of affairs, the extent of the tables is somewhat increased than in regular instances. But basically, it’s very homogeneous and there may be room for good outcomes.

Interview by Boris Boutet